The United Airlines dress code requires employees to wear neat and professional attire, with specific uniform and grooming standards in place. The dress code requirements vary depending on your position (e.g., flight attendant, baggage handler, pilot).

United Airlines maintains a relatively relaxed "properly clothed" dress code for its standard passengers, primarily requiring that clothing be clean, respectful, and not "lewd, obscene, or offensive." According to their contract of carriage, passengers must wear shoes at all times, and clothing that is overly revealing or features profane language may be grounds for denied boarding. However, for those flying in United Polaris (Business Class) or using the United Club lounges, the expectation shifts slightly toward "smart casual." While there is no official ban on clean jeans or nice sneakers, the airline encourages a level of grooming that matches the premium environment. For employees or those traveling on "buddy passes" (non-revenue standby), the rules are much stricter: they are often prohibited from wearing ripped jeans, flip-flops, athletic shorts, or gym wear in any cabin. For the average paying customer, as long as your attire wouldn't cause a disturbance or a safety issue, you are free to prioritize comfort for your flight. The goal of the policy is to balance the modern preference for casual travel with a basic standard of public decency and safety.